In Part VII of this series, we delve into the day-to-day challenges, surreal experiences, and the ethical gray areas of working at Pink Dispensary.
Ownership decisions and understaffing caused frequent disruptions. One memorable incident involved me being asked to move a delivery vehicle, a task I was uncomfortable with, resulting in an unfortunate scratch on the car and a loss of faith in upper management. Understaffing made it challenging for everyone to “wear many hats,” and led to what some call “quiet quitting” as a means of self-preservation against burnout.
Halloween added another bizarre chapter, as the owner showed up dressed as a police officer—an insensitive choice given the community’s history with law enforcement. The lack of awareness was baffling, and morale continued to suffer under an ownership team that seemed disconnected from the realities of running a dispensary.
There was also a troubling lack of cultural sensitivity within Pink. Racial and LGBTQ+ insensitivities were dismissed by management, creating a challenging environment for employees, many of whom had to endure microaggressions and uncomfortable situations regularly. The frequent HR missteps made me question the industry’s lack of federal oversight and protections for workers in similar dispensaries.
A High Turnover and Failing Systems
With turnover high and management issues persisting, our inventory and POS systems began to falter. Technical issues made it hard to sync our inventory, and new hires received insufficient training. As workloads increased, raises and promotions lagged behind promises, and my role expanded beyond what any co-founder might typically manage. Yet, I took pride in helping the industry pros, photographers, and even family who visited, giving them a glimpse of what our team had managed to build.
The competition was fierce. A nearby competitor was suspected of targeting our social media, mass-reporting posts to disrupt our scheduled “Live” events with vendors. These competitive tactics, while frustrating, underscore the broader challenges of running a cannabis business, particularly when banking and insurance access remains limited.
Quality Control Gone Awry
One incident that sticks out was the limited edition “Cheetah Piss” strain from a major Blue brand. When I opened the package, I noticed two visibly different types of cannabis in the same bag—an obvious quality control issue. Our trusted grower, who had partnered on the strain, was as shocked as I was, though nothing seemed to come of it afterward. This reinforced my commitment to consumers and the importance of transparency and trust in product offerings.
Navigating the Legal Gray Areas
We often saw customers buying their daily limits with the apparent intent of reselling on the black market, particularly before states like New York legalized. These “black market” buyers posed ethical dilemmas for us—should we refuse service, report them, or simply look the other way? Moreover, some brands seemed to profit from shady practices, as their products were often found in unregulated markets despite the brands’ supposed “ethics.”
Even within Pink, there were rumors of “shadow accounts” that allowed select customers to bypass taxes and purchase directly, cutting the dispensary out of sales. These practices are commonplace in an industry where “survival” often means bending the rules.
Looking Ahead
Stay tuned for the conclusion of this series, where I’ll share final reflections on my journey with Pink, the lessons learned, and where the industry may be headed. It’s been a wild ride—but one I’m grateful to have experienced, even if I’m ready to move on.
